Luke 7:18-35, "Dealing With Doubt"

[00:00:00] Welcome to the July 12 sermon from Clifford Baptist Church, 635 Fletcher's Level Road in Amherst. Today's scripture is Luke, chapter 7, verses 18 through 35, and the Sermon is entitled Dealing with Doubt, delivered today by Pastor Jeffrey Campbell. I'm thankful that as we come together today, we come to God's word. And I ask that you take your copy of it and open it to Luke, chapter number seven. Luke, chapter number seven. [00:00:26] So as we gather together today, I'm thankful that as we continue along through the Gospel of Luke, we have encountered the work of Jesus, and we also are today encountering the work of Satan in our lives. And maybe you can identify and relate to some of that as we are going to discuss an issue that may visit you or your family from time to time. [00:00:53] It's no stranger if you look back throughout your Bible that you look at the heroes of faith, and some of them struggled with this same issue. [00:01:03] You think about Thomas and Peter, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, the disciples, and today we see none other than John the Baptist join that list. [00:01:18] The issue that I'm talking about is doubt. [00:01:22] And I don't know if you've ever struggled with that, but maybe you're as guilty as I am about doubting what the Lord could do. If you remember, Thomas wouldn't believe unless he saw the nail prints. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and put them on the storm. Abraham and Sarah were promised a child. [00:01:44] Moses didn't think he was the right leader. And John the Baptist asked a very simple question today of Jesus that shows what he is feeling. And that question is, should we look for another? Should we look for someone else to follow? [00:02:02] Shelby Abbott writes these words, doubt should never take up permanent residence in your heart. [00:02:10] And in his article, he alludes that doubt can be a guest. Like you would invite a guest into your home. That guest comes in and uses your spare bedroom. [00:02:21] That guest may sleep on your sofa. [00:02:25] That guest may use your bathroom or may leave their dishes dirty on your sink. But guess what? Eventually that guest leaves. [00:02:35] And doubt should be like that. [00:02:37] Doubt can't take up a permanent residence in your mind, in your life and your heart. If you are permanently dealing with doubt, then you have allowed it to take up home in your heart, in your mind, and in your life. [00:02:52] And that's where Satan does the damage. [00:02:57] And so today we look at a very real issue, and we look at a very real question. [00:03:05] As John the Baptist asked, is there someone else? [00:03:11] Maybe today you're wondering about that with Jesus. [00:03:15] Is there another way? Is There someone else. And I would quickly say, no, there is not. [00:03:23] Today is doubt something that controls you or that you want to get control of. [00:03:31] And I pray that today when you leave here, there will be three things that you learn about doubt. [00:03:37] Luke chapter number seven, starting with verse number 18. [00:03:42] Luke chapter seven, starting with verse number 18 says this. [00:03:48] And the disciples of John showed him all of all these things. [00:03:53] And John calling unto him, two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, art thou he that should come, or look we for another? [00:04:03] When the men were come unto him, they said, john Baptist has sent us unto thee, saying, art thou he that should come, or look we for another? [00:04:13] In that same hour, he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and evil spirits. And unto many that were blind, he gave sight. [00:04:23] And Jesus answering said unto them, go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard. How the blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. And to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended. In me. [00:04:46] Point number one. Today, as we understand the life of John and we look at this situation, doubt can raise questions. [00:04:57] Doubt can cause you to question some things that you have known and that you have known all your life. [00:05:05] Jesus has been teaching and healing and the word of that has reached back to John. Look at verse number 17 real quick. Verse number 17. It says this. The rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea and through all the region roundabout. [00:05:21] So that rumor of what Jesus is doing is going around. And in verse number 18, we see that that news has reached John. John's disciples has brought to him the news that Jesus is doing some amazing things. [00:05:37] There are people that are getting healed. There are people whose spirits who had evil spirits, they're gone. [00:05:44] Jesus is at work. [00:05:46] And as that news makes it back to John, we understand where John is. Back in Luke chapter number three, verse number 20, it records that John is where he is shut up in prison. [00:06:01] So John has been arrested. And here's what John is facing. John knows this, that his life is about to be over. [00:06:10] He's in prison and his life is about to end. And so in that dark and desolate dungeon, it's amazing what happens in a man or woman's mind when they are alone and away from God or even the people of God Church. Listen, Satan wants you to be alone at home and not around godly people. [00:06:34] Satan wants you to stay at home and not worship on Sunday morning. [00:06:38] He wants you to Pigeonhole yourself in your home and not let anybody in. [00:06:44] Why? [00:06:45] Because this he can begin to work on your mind. [00:06:49] As John is arrested something that is beyond his control, he understands that his days are limited. [00:06:58] But here's what I need you to understand. [00:07:01] This is the same John that knew, that identified Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. You remember that John identified, that's Jesus. [00:07:16] This is the same John that preached there was one coming after him whose shoes he was unworthy to unloose. [00:07:25] And now this same man who identified Jesus is here, is asking the question, is Jesus the one? [00:07:33] Could it be because he was in prison? Or could it be because he could not see the outside world of what was going on? [00:07:41] God had left him. Maybe that was his thought or Jesus met his expectations in a different way. John, was he really wrong in his declaration of who Jesus was? Do you see the mind game that's going on here? And that's not too far off from what Christians and experience as well. [00:08:01] So many people who grew up in the faith or grew up in the church learning about Jesus are doing what they now call deconstructing their faith. They're trying to figure out, is Jesus really what I've learned all my life? And so it's no different than John sitting in a lonely prison. Is this, Is this Jesus? Is this a good man? Should we look for another? Some of you love lighthouses. I grew up with a mother who loved lighthouses. And you know where they are. You know their location. But here's what you also know. In the fiercest of storms, those lighthouses, though they are still there, they can disappear. Maybe you have seen fall creep in around one before, and you can't really know. You don't really know where that lighthouse is. You know it's supposed to be there, but you can't see it. Just because you don't see something, does that change the fact that the lighthouse is not there? No. No, it doesn't. And so just because we can't see what God is doing, or we may not have all the answers we desire, it doesn't mean that God is not real and that he doesn't love you and he doesn't want to lead your life. So what does Jesus do with John's question, as these two disciples come and say, hey, are you the one? Or should we look for another? [00:09:19] He does the same thing he did with Thomas. What did Jesus do with Thomas? When Thomas doubted, Jesus said, I need to see it in order to believe it. Jesus showed up. And here's what he said. Thomas, here are my hands, here's my side. [00:09:33] Put your hand there. If you need to touch it, here it is. [00:09:36] For John. John invites these two messengers a little bit closer. And as he invites those messengers in, here's what the Bible records and John chapter number seven. Look at verse 21. It says in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and evil spirits. And unto many that were blind he gave sight. What was Jesus? Answer. Hey guys, come a little closer. I want you to see for yourself who I am. That way you can take it back to John and tell him exactly who I am. And as Jesus invites that doubt to come close and he answers that doubt, he begins to show them that indeed he is exactly who he said he would be. The proof is this. The blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the Gospel is preached. One of the greatest pieces of the argument against doubt is this. The truth of the gospel always prevails. The truth of Jesus prevails. And so what Jesus does is just show John's messengers exactly who he is. Let me ask you this. Where do your doubts lie? And with that question, here's what I'm asking you is what are your doubts lying to you about? And as you think about that, those questions come to mind. And here's what you need to understand. Jesus offers proof. And Jesus is the answer to any doubt that you may have. Don't settle on the storms that cloud your vision or cloud your mind or Satan's work in your mind and realize or depend on that being the truth. I Love verse number 23. Blessed is he who whosoever shall not be offended in me. And what we need to realize is this. Jesus is truth. Jesus has the answer. But here's what the Bible also teaches us. That doesn't mean we won't doubt. That doesn't mean we won't have questions. But Jesus will visit with the proof. Point number two. [00:11:51] Look at verses 24 through 30. And when the messengers of John were departed, he. He began to speak unto the people concerning John. What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind. [00:12:05] But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment. Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled and live delicately are in kings courts. But went ye out for to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you as much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, among those that are born of a woman, there is none greater a prophet than John the Baptist. But he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Verse 29. And all the people that heard him and the publicans justified God being baptized by with the baptism of John. [00:12:51] But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him. Point number two is doubt can reject the message. Doubt can cause you to reject the message. And when we look at these two messengers and they deliver the proof back to the prison where John was, guess what? Jesus continues to teach. Jesus was all about teaching those people that were before him. And so he begins to continue on, and he shares about John the Baptist and his life. And he says, he was not a reed blown around by the wind. [00:13:31] He was rooted. He was strong and a steady man. [00:13:35] He was not clothed with the finest that the world had to offer. [00:13:40] He had no fine apparel. He was more than a prophet. He was sent by God as the forerunner of Jesus. But Jesus says this. There has been no greater man born of a woman greater than John the Baptist. Now, what does that tell you? Here comes the questions of doubt. Jesus receives those questions from John the Baptist. Does he smack him around? [00:14:04] Say, what are you thinking, boy? No, Jesus doesn't do that. Jesus shows him proof. He sends those messengers back. And here's what he begins to tell the audience. John is a fine man. John is sitting in prison because of his faith. John is in a deep, dark dungeon right now. And in that deep, dark dungeon, doubt tends to creep in. But there's none finer in all the world than John the Baptist. And as he begins to tell that message to the onlookers there, we see this. [00:14:33] That John is a faithful man despite the doubt that arises in his mind and his heart. Jesus is affirming that there is faith in John's life. But in verses 29 and 30, we see more doubt creep in. Now listen. Look at me, Church. It's one thing to have a doubt creep in and say, okay, I've got the answer. [00:15:02] I've got the truth. Now I'm going to move on. [00:15:05] It's another thing for doubt to creep in, and you let it live there and you let it stay, and you make decisions and you live your life according to that which is not true. And that's what we see in verses 29 and 30. Verse 29. Look there. It says this as all the people hurting. And the publicans justified God being baptized with the baptism of John. [00:15:28] These two different groups are there. The publicans are the tax collectors that are there. They heard and they justified God. [00:15:38] They were baptized under John's leadership and they were called to turn their lives around and turn to God, repent and turn. [00:15:48] And they obeyed that and they were baptized. And so what it means by their lives being justified to God is this. They're saying this, I want to live my life according to God's leading. But look at verse number 30. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him. [00:16:09] So there's another group that rejected the message. [00:16:13] And the Pharisees and lawyers that are included in the group, they are considered experts in the law and they reject John's teaching, John's baptism, and John's call to repent and follow God. And as they reject that call, they are acknowledging this. [00:16:31] I don't believe it. I'm allowing that doubt to overtake my actions, my mind and my belief. And so they reject God. So in these two verses you've got those that say, okay, this is true, this is right, this is what I want to base my life on. [00:16:51] And you've got another group that says, oh no, that can't be true, filled with doubt. [00:16:56] So as we look at these two groups, Jesus identifies that group that doubts and questions the experts in the law. And he just simply says this, you've rejected the messenger. [00:17:12] And by rejecting the messenger you, you also have rejected the message. And here's what we gotta be careful with church. As they reject that message, they are also rejecting God's purpose for their life. [00:17:26] And in doing so, doubt can lead to closed doors that are caused by doubt and rejection. Doubt can close the doors. [00:17:38] And that's what it's done in these religious leaders hearts. It has slammed that door shut. [00:17:45] When we have doubts and when we have questions, we need to seek the answers for those questions. [00:17:51] Now let me ask you this. How many of you have been Christians, believers for a long time, but you have something that you don't quite understand? [00:18:01] Anybody? I can raise my hand, right? And sometimes instead of seeking the answer for those things we don't quite understand, seeds of doubt begin to come into our heart and then they breed. And those seeds of doubt then cause us to push away from God. [00:18:19] And that's exactly what happened in these experts case. [00:18:23] The door to anything to do with Jesus was closed because this could not be the Messiah. [00:18:31] In their minds, they doubted who Jesus Truly was. [00:18:37] And so today, Jesus was a threat to them. [00:18:42] Jesus was a maniac, not the Messiah. [00:18:46] But they did not seek the answers to their questions. Here's what I want to tell you today, church. [00:18:52] When it comes to doubt, don't slam the door shut on the questions that you have. [00:19:00] Bring them before the Lord. [00:19:02] Bring them. Search for the answers in God's word. [00:19:05] Call a trusted friend, a mentor, a pastor. Get the answers that you are looking for. Because if not, doubt will take over your mind, your life, and your decisions. Is there another? [00:19:20] That's the question. John is waging that question. [00:19:24] But listen, church, listen to me. There's some of you in this room today that think there's someone else better for your marriage than the one that God gave you. [00:19:34] And the question you're answering, is there another? And the answer is no. [00:19:39] No. [00:19:40] That's who God has gifted you. But marriages, even within the church are falling apart because people believe there's somebody else better. [00:19:50] And the answer is no. [00:19:52] Those seeds of doubt can tear marriages apart. They can tear faith apart, and they can tear the church apart if we're not careful. [00:20:02] So we ponder the question, is there another? [00:20:05] And doubt can cause you to look at what is true and shut the door to it. Be careful. [00:20:17] That is Satan's lone goal for the believer's life. [00:20:22] James 1, verses 5 and 6. You don't have to turn there. Just listen. [00:20:27] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. [00:20:38] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. Look, I'm not preaching at you today. [00:20:51] I'm just telling you that I've been tossed. And as well, my faith has been on that wave of up and down, tossed to and fro because of doubt that I've allowed creep into my life. [00:21:03] Search for the truth. [00:21:06] Don't let doubt close that door of faith. There's one more point. [00:21:11] Look at verses 31 through 35. And the Lord said, whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? [00:21:19] And. And to what are they like? [00:21:21] They are like unto children sitting in a marketplace, calling to one another and saying, we have piped unto you and have not danced. We have mourned to you and you have not wept. [00:21:35] For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine. And you say, he has a devil. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking and. And you say, behold a gluttonous man, a wine bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. [00:21:52] But wisdom is justified. Of all of her children. Point number three today is doubt can refuse the truth. Doubt can refuse the truth. [00:22:04] Jesus looks at his generation and he looks at the men and women of that generation and he compares them or gives an illustration of. Of what his generation is like. And here's what he says. [00:22:18] Now, here's what I need you to remember. Up until this point, there are two primary preachers of the gospel. There's Jesus and there's John, right? The truth of who Jesus is. John's in jail, and Jesus is there trying to teach and gather that following of people. [00:22:34] And so as they are now leading, Jesus says, this, this generation is like a bunch of children. [00:22:42] How many of y' all would say that about this generation? Don't raise your hand. Don't raise your hand. Don't do that. [00:22:46] But they're different. [00:22:48] When we think about these children. [00:22:52] They're like children that are playing to two different songs. And here's what he says. [00:22:59] If you want to think about this, maybe in the marriage terms, it's probably better. There's a wedding and there's a funeral. [00:23:06] One's a time of celebration and one's a time of sorrow. [00:23:10] And he said, the children of this generation are like children who piped and you didn't dance. [00:23:17] Now, I know that that's not the Baptist way, right? [00:23:20] You hear a little music, if you get a little toe tapping, you better watch yourself, right? You might cross a line. [00:23:26] I know some of you tap toes, and that's okay. It's okay. You see something good at a great event, at a wedding event, that's maybe the one time that I will grab my wife and get on the dance floor because there's a celebration. And here's what Jesus is looking at this generation. [00:23:43] The children have played the happy song. They're playing the fun game. [00:23:48] Jesus is looking at the people and saying, you're not dancing. He also says this. [00:23:52] We sang a song of mourning, and there's no tears coming down your eyes. You're not weeping. [00:23:58] Now, what in the world is Jesus trying to say? [00:24:01] Do you agree that a wedding and a funeral are on two different ends of the spectrum? [00:24:07] Well, here's what Jesus is trying to say. [00:24:09] John was on one end of the spectrum. [00:24:12] And John came to you, and John the Baptist preached to you. [00:24:17] And John is related to that sad song or that funeral song. And his message was about judgment and repentance and Turning to God on or else. [00:24:27] And Jesus says this, you didn't weep. You didn't like that song. You didn't weep because of your sin. You didn't turn to God. [00:24:36] John was on one end of the spectrum who called you into repentance. And he didn't dress like the world. [00:24:43] He didn't eat like the world. He ate locust and honey. And in that lifestyle, he was sober and serious. [00:24:54] And you accused John of having a demon, but all he wanted to is turn you to God through that song he was singing. [00:25:04] But you didn't weep. And Jesus says this. Then my ministry. Then I came along and I ate with sinners and I sat down with sinners. And my ministry was electric. I was healing and I was performing miracles. [00:25:22] God was at work through me. [00:25:25] And all of that good stuff that was going on, demons being cast out and lives being changed. You didn't dance. [00:25:34] You looked at me and you didn't dance. [00:25:38] You didn't celebrate that God had come. [00:25:40] What did they do? [00:25:42] Verse number 34, Jesus says this, you said, the Son of man has come eating and drinking. [00:25:49] Behold, a gluttonous man, a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. You just called me a glutton, a drunkard and a friend of sinners. That's all you did. Stay with me here. I know this is boring. One end, there's a funeral. One end, there's John the Baptist preaching directly, calling for people to turn or else you will face eternal punishment. On the other side, there's a wedding, a celebration. Jesus came performing the miracles, doing the good work of God, and they still rejected both of them. And so what? Jesus is saying this. No matter what song comes on the radio, you ain't happy. All right? Be ready, Church. That's a sermon right there, right? [00:26:30] Some of you. Some of you could get your prayers answered and move along, and then doubt come in and turn you from the good things that God is doing. There's some of us that if we're not careful, that we will reject the truth of God. [00:26:46] Listen to this. We get caught up in preachers. [00:26:50] Everyone can't be an Adrian Rogers, okay? [00:26:54] Everyone can't be David, Jeremiah and Clifford. Everyone can't be Mike Fitzgerald, okay? But look, whether you hear it from Mike Fitzgerald or David Jeremiah or Adrian Rogers or Jeffrey Campbell, the message is the same. [00:27:09] It may sound different, it may be on one of the different ends of the spectrum, but the truth of the gospel is there. [00:27:17] And if you reject that, you've rejected me. That's what Jesus is saying. Doubt can cause you to reject Jesus himself. [00:27:28] And it doesn't matter what it looks like or what it sounds like. The doubt in your head and the doubt in your heart when will reject it every single time. It can be on a silver platter just as you asked for it and you won't receive it. That's hard. The way God created me is different than Mike Fitzgerald or Clyde Moyer or John Martin or Nathan Williams. And I've learned to praise God for that. And you should praise God too, that you're not like Jeffrey. Praise God, God, that you're not like Jeffrey. [00:28:04] But church, listen, as we leave today, we have the same message. [00:28:12] Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. [00:28:17] That's the message. [00:28:19] And here's what you need to hear. Listen, hold on, here's what you need to hear. [00:28:24] Doubt chooses to squelch that message in your head, in your heart and in your life. [00:28:34] And so today, as I look at the children of God at Clifford Baptist Church, be careful around doubt. Doubt is deep rooted. [00:28:44] It can work its way to your heart and to your mind and to your soul. [00:28:49] Doubt can lead you to reject the truth no matter what it looks like. [00:28:54] Here's what I want you to understand. Eventually the doubt in the city would cause Jesus to dust the dust off his shoes and move along. [00:29:02] And I pray, I pray from the deep depths of my heart that God does not do that for you. Romans teaches us this, that our hearts can become so hard that we reject truth when it's standing right in front of us. And that's what happened in this story. [00:29:20] Jesus was standing right in front of them and they could not see him for who he is. [00:29:26] And so today, church, when we look at this situation, there were many hard hearts and closed doors about who Jesus really is. [00:29:39] Hit the fast Forward button to 2026. And I'm not saying necessarily in this room, but there's probably the case in this room, but on livestream, in our community, in our homes, around the world, there's a closed door to who Jesus really is. And it's all because of seed of doubt. The devil has allowed that seed to grow and close doors that need to be swung open wide. And so today, in a moment of invitation, I'm talking to good people, but I'm talking and standing before you to say this. I've had my doubts. [00:30:13] But here's also the other part of that story. [00:30:17] God has not disappointed me yet. [00:30:20] God has been faithful to show me even when you doubt. [00:30:25] Here's the proof. [00:30:27] You've got to trust me. [00:30:29] Here's the proof today. [00:30:32] I don't know what proof you need. [00:30:35] Just turn your eyes toward Jesus, his arms spread open wide. [00:30:41] Took your sin to an old rugged cross. [00:30:45] Those thoughts that you're not good enough to be saved, throw them out the window. You don't have to be good enough. [00:30:51] Jesus said, we're all sinners. [00:30:54] This is the gift of God. [00:30:58] Today, if you'll come and turn from that sin, turn to Jesus in faith. [00:31:04] He will save your soul. [00:31:09] The other end of the spectrum is this. [00:31:11] Listen, here's the other end of the spectrum. If you don't, there's an eternity that awaits, that is separated from the presence of God forever. [00:31:24] How will we respond? Church? [00:31:27] Here's how we need to respond. [00:31:30] By faith. [00:31:32] Let's pray, Lord, in these moments, as we bow before you, God, thank you. [00:31:39] Thank you, Lord, that you show us in scripture that some of the heroes of our faith had issues, had questions, had doubts. [00:31:51] Lord, this morning there may be a believer in this room that just needs to come before you examine the proof, bring their questions. [00:32:04] Because, Lord, you have the answer. [00:32:07] God, I pray today, Lord, there's no one, that no one leaves this room without hearing Jesus is the answer. [00:32:16] Lord, by your spirit, Lord, I pray that you will work in people's minds and their hearts and their lives. [00:32:24] Let the truth combat the doubt that is there for that one that needs you, a savior. [00:32:31] Oh God, I pray that you will go before and you will do that work, that lives will turn to you and trust you in faith. [00:32:40] God, thank you for meeting us in this place and we give you this moment of invitation now. In Jesus name, amen. Clifford Baptist Church invites you to join us for worship every Sunday morning at 11am for more information about our church, please call our church office at 434-94-605 55.